Legend (1985)
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Part of the A Nightmare on Franklin Street 2026 series
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1h 29m / PG / Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Ridley Scott, having directed The Duellists to tremendous critical acclaim but very little else, wanted to adapt the romantic medieval legend of Tristan and Iseult to film. But without the clout to make that happen, he opted instead to make two of the most foundational and visionary science fiction films of all time back to back (Alien and Blade Runner), and then cash that in on the next best thing to a Tristan and Iseult adaptation: his own, original fairy tale, creepy and adult, starring Tom Cruise just before Top Gun and featuring makeup effects from Rob Bottin (the guy responsible for The Howling and The Thing).
The result is a film that’s drowning in its influences, frequently described as “confusing” or “disconnected,” but unlike anything else ever put to film at this scale. Its failure to thrive ended Hollywood fantasy movies for a generation, but on the other hand it gave us Tim Curry in a gigantic head prosthetic with horns five feet across, so who really won? You need to see Legend, Ridley Scott’s second best movie with a unicorn. Not necessarily because it’s so successful, but at least because it’s so unusual.
Before the screening, Hector Sotomayor—a professor of Film, Art, & Media at the Ringling College of Art & Design—will provide a brief introduction to the film.
**********************************************************
A Nightmare on Franklin Street series is presented by Bank of America. View the full series at https://tampatheatre.org/nightmare
**********************************************************
1h 29m / PG / Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Ridley Scott, having directed The Duellists to tremendous critical acclaim but very little else, wanted to adapt the romantic medieval legend of Tristan and Iseult to film. But without the clout to make that happen, he opted instead to make two of the most foundational and visionary science fiction films of all time back to back (Alien and Blade Runner), and then cash that in on the next best thing to a Tristan and Iseult adaptation: his own, original fairy tale, creepy and adult, starring Tom Cruise just before Top Gun and featuring makeup effects from Rob Bottin (the guy responsible for The Howling and The Thing).
The result is a film that’s drowning in its influences, frequently described as “confusing” or “disconnected,” but unlike anything else ever put to film at this scale. Its failure to thrive ended Hollywood fantasy movies for a generation, but on the other hand it gave us Tim Curry in a gigantic head prosthetic with horns five feet across, so who really won? You need to see Legend, Ridley Scott’s second best movie with a unicorn. Not necessarily because it’s so successful, but at least because it’s so unusual.
Before the screening, Hector Sotomayor—a professor of Film, Art, & Media at the Ringling College of Art & Design—will provide a brief introduction to the film.
**********************************************************
A Nightmare on Franklin Street series is presented by Bank of America. View the full series at https://tampatheatre.org/nightmare
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Where is it happening?
Tampa Theatre, 707 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602-4400, United States
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Host or PublisherTampa Theatre